Maryam Monsef

Monsef was born at the Imam Reza Hospital[lower-alpha 1] in Mashhad, Iran,[7] to Hazara Afghan parents who had fled during the Soviet–Afghan War, and lived with her family there in childhood, together with periods in Herat, Afghanistan, in 1987–1988 and 1993–1996.[8] Because Iran and Afghanistan (before 2000)[9] followed the principle of jus sanguinis in their respective nationality laws, Monsef was born an Afghan citizen.[10] Her father was killed on the Iran–Afghanistan border while travelling in 1988, although it is unknown whether he was killed by bandits or Soviet troops.[8] Her uncle had, years earlier, vanished along with several roommates while attending the University of Kabul, in circumstances suggested to have been connected to anti-communist political activity. The family struggled in Iran[11] because of low economic and social prospects for Afghan migrants,[12] even though they had legal status as "involuntary migrants" (mohajerin) under Iranian rules in effect prior to 1992.[13][lower-alpha 2] In 1996, during their second return to Herat, her mother opted to move the family to Canada, and the resulting journey involved traveling through Iran, Pakistan, and Jordan.[11]

Upon arrival, the family took up residence in Peterborough, where Monsef's uncle already lived. They relied on the support of several charity organizations, including the YMCA and the Salvation Army.[11] Monsef has continued to raise money for humanitarian activities in Afghanistan.[16]

In 2003, Monsef enrolled at Trent University,[17] from which she graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology.[18] After graduation, from 2011 to 2014, she worked in several public sector positions in the Peterborough area.[lower-alpha 3]

In 2019, she announced her engagement to former Liberal member of Parliament Matt DeCourcey.[20]

In 2014, Monsef had been offered a job in Afghanistan, but was unable to enter the country because of security concerns.[21] She then went to Iran to work on relief efforts for Afghan refugees, which encouraged her to focus on political endeavours.[21] She returned to Canada, and ran for mayor of Peterborough in 2014, finishing a close second. Later that same year, she was chosen to represent the Liberal Party in the upcoming federal election.[22] She was elected on October 19, 2015, with 43.8% of the vote.[23]

Monsef was appointed as Minister of Democratic Institutions in Justin Trudeau's Cabinet on November 4, 2015.[24] She has variously been referred to as the second- or fourth-youngest minister ever appointed to the Cabinet.[11][25] According to The Hill Times, Monsef was named President of the Queen's Privy Council in Canada although it was unclear at the time whether she had been sworn into that office.[26] Monsef has described this position as "largely ceremonial."[27] The Parliamentary website subsequently indicated that she had assumed the position on November 4.[28]

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• Official Site
• Maryam Monsef – Parliament of Canada biography
• Bio & mandate from the Prime Minister
• Maryam Monsef Twitter account.